Exhaust isolator

ABSTRACT

An isolator for an engine mount or an exhaust system is designed to be mounted directly into a hole defined by a supporting structure of a vehicle. A rod extends between an elastomeric isolator disposed in the hole and a component of the vehicle being supported.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a mounting arrangement for an exhaustsystem of a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relatesto an exhaust isolator which is mounted directly to a vehicle's frame orunderbody, thus eliminating the need for brackets, bolts, welded framenuts, clipped in frame nuts or the like.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Typically, automotive vehicles, including cars and trucks, have aninternal combustion engine which is coupled to at least a transmissionand a differential for providing power to the driven wheels of thevehicle. An engine exhaust system which typically includes an exhaustpipe, a catalytic converter, a muffler and a tail pipe is attached tothe engine to quiet the combustion process, to clean the exhaust gasesand to route the products of combustion away from the engine. Theexhaust system is supported by exhaust mounts or isolators which arepositioned between the exhaust system and the frame, the underbody orsome other supporting structure of the vehicle's body. In order toprevent engine movement and/or vibrations from being transmitted to thevehicle's body, the exhaust mounts or isolators incorporate flexiblemounting members or elastic suspension members to isolate the vehicle'sbody from the exhaust system.

Typical prior art exhaust mounts or isolators include an upper hangerwhich is attached to the vehicle's frame or other support structure ofthe vehicles' body. The upper member extends from the support structuresuch that it positions an elastomeric isolator at the proper location toaccept a lower hanger which extends from the elastomeric isolator to oneof the exhaust system's components. The elastomeric isolator is securedin a specific location between the upper hanger and the lower hanger.Typically, the upper hanger includes assembly hardware such as stampedbrackets, bolts, welded frame nuts, clip-in frame nuts and/or formedrods which are utilized to secure the upper mount to the frame or othersupport structure and to secure the elastomeric isolator to the uppermount. This hardware increases the costs and the amount of carbonnecessary for the construction and assembly of the vehicle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes an engine mount or isolator which ismounted directly to the vehicle's frame or other support structure ofthe vehicle's body. The direct attachment of the exhaust mount orisolator eliminates the need for the upper bracket and all of theassociated hardware. The exhaust mount or isolator can be fit directlywithin a hole formed in the support structure. The elastomeric portionof the exhaust mount or isolator includes a hole which accepts a supportrod or lower hanger which is attached to the component of the exhaustsystem. The support rod or lower hanger can be formed to position thecomponent of the exhaust system in the desired location.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exhaust system attached to a supportstructure of a vehicle with exhaust isolators in accordance with thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the exhaust isolatorsillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exhaust isolator illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the exhaust isolator illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust isolator illustrated inFIGS. 1-4 with a support rod or lower hanger assembled;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 2 butillustrating an exhaust isolator in accordance with another embodimentof the present invention; and,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust isolator illustrated inFIG. 6 with a support rod or lower hanger assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. There isshown in FIG. 1, an exhaust mounting system in accordance with thepresent disclosure which is identified generally by the referencenumeral 10. Exhaust mounting system 10 attaches an exhaust system 12 toa support structure 14 of a vehicle. The vehicle includes an internalcombustion engine (not shown), an unsprung mass including wheels and asuspension system (not shown) and a sprung mass which includes a vehiclebody (not shown) which is supported by support structure 14. Exhaustsystem 12 is connected to the engine of the vehicle and exhaust system12 routes the products of combustion of the engine to the rear of thevehicle. The internal combustion engine powers the wheels of the vehiclethrough a transmission (not shown) and a differential (not shown).

Exhaust system 12 comprises an intermediate pipe 22, a muffler 24, atailpipe 26 and a plurality of exhaust isolator assemblies 30.Intermediate pipe 22 is typically connected to a catalytic converter(not shown) which is connected to an exhaust pipe (not shown) which isin turn connected to an exhaust manifold (not shown) which is one of thecomponents of the vehicle's internal combustion engine. The catalyticconverter may be connected to a single exhaust pipe which leads to asingle exhaust manifold or the catalytic converter can be attached to abranched exhaust pipe which leads to a plurality of exhaust manifolds.Also, intermediate pipe 22 can be connected to a plurality of catalyticconverters which connect together prior to reaching muffler 24 using abranched intermediate pipe 22 or the vehicle can have a plurality ofexhaust manifolds, connected to a plurality of exhaust pipes, connectedto a plurality of catalytic converters, connected to a plurality ofintermediate pipes, connected to a plurality of mufflers, connected to aplurality of exhaust pipes. The present disclosure is applicable to theabove described exhaust systems as well as any other exhaust systemknown in the art.

Exhaust system 12 is utilized to route the exhaust gases from thevehicle's engine to the rear area of the vehicle. While traveling fromthe engine to the rear of the vehicle through exhaust system 12, thecatalytic cleaner cleans the exhaust gases and muffler 24 quiets thenoises associated with the combustion process of the vehicle's engine.Exhaust isolator assemblies 30 provide for the support of exhaust system12 underneath the vehicle and they operate to prevent engine movementand vibrations from being transmitted to the vehicle's body. Inaddition, exhaust isolator assemblies 30 provide proper positioning andalignment for exhaust system 12 during assembly of exhaust system 12 andduring the operation of the vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, exhaust isolator assembly 30 comprises anexterior housing or sleeve 40, an elastomeric isolator 42, an exhaustrod 44 and an internal sleeve 46. Exterior housing or sleeve 40 andinternal sleeve 46 are both a drawn steel sleeve, a plastic sleeve orany other type of sleeve known in the art. Exterior housing or sleeve 40includes a flange 50 which facilitates the press-fitting or assembly ofexterior housing or sleeve 40 into the vehicle. Exterior housing orsleeve 40 is designed to be press-fit into an aperture 52 defined bysupport structure 14 of the vehicle (a cross-member as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2). Press-fitting of exterior housing or sleeve 40 directlyinto aperture 52 defined by support structure 14 eliminates the typicalhardware associated with mounting the prior art exhaust isolators.Exterior housing or sleeve 40 may be pressed into aperture 52mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically. This press-fit operationcan be conducted during vehicle assembly, it can be conducted duringmanufacture of support structure 14 or at any time convenient to thevehicle's manufacturer. While exterior housing or sleeve 40 isillustrated as being a circular cylindrical shape, it is within thescope of the present invention to have exterior housing or sleeve 40 beany shape which is desired by the vehicle's manufacturer.

Elastomeric isolator 42 is disposed within exterior housing or sleeve 40by being press fit, chemically bonded or secured to exterior housing orsleeve 40 by any other means known in the art. Elastomeric isolator 42can be formed from silicone (typical for high temperature applications),EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer) (typical for moderatetemperature applications), natural rubber (typical for low temperatureapplications) or any other elastomer which meets the requirements of theapplication. Internal sleeve 46 is typically molded into elastomericisolator 42. Elastomeric isolator 42 defines a plurality of voids 56which are engineered in size, shape and location to control the dynamicrate of exhaust isolator assembly 30, the insertion force for exhaustisolator assembly 30, the system durability requirements for exhaustisolator assembly 30 as well as other developmental and performancecharacteristics for exhaust isolator assembly 30. Elastomeric isolator42 defines a through bore 58 through which exhaust rod 44 is insertedduring the installation of exhaust system 12.

Exhaust rod 44 is a formed rod which can include compound bends suchthat a first end 60 is positioned to axially engage bore 58 and a secondend 62 is designed to mate with and be secured to a component of exhaustsystem 12. As illustrated, a different exhaust rod 44 is used for eachexhaust isolator assembly 30 but it is within the scope of the presentinvention to utilize as many common exhaust rods 44 as the design of thespecific application allows. Also, each exhaust rod 44 is designed suchthat each first end 60, which axially engages a respective bore 58, isdesigned such that they engage their respective bore 58 in the fore/aftdirection of the vehicle. This fore/aft arrangement of all of exhaustrods 44 simplifies the assembly of exhaust system 12 into vehicle 10.

Typically, exhaust rods 44 will each be attached to their respectivecomponent of exhaust system 12. Exhaust system 12 is properly positionedbelow the vehicle and each exhaust rod 44 is aligned with its respectivebore 58 either individually or simultaneously. Exhaust rods 44 areinserted into bores 58 to complete the assembly of exhaust system 12onto the vehicle. The fore/aft arrangement of all of support rods 44simplifies this assembly process. An annular barb 66 is formed on theend of each exhaust rod 44 to resist the removal of exhaust rod 44 fromits respective bore 58.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an exhaust isolator assembly 130 inaccordance with another embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated.Exhaust isolator assembly 130 comprises elastomeric isolator 142 andexhaust rod 44. Elastomeric isolator 142 is the same as elastomericisolator 42 except that elastomeric isolator 142 is designed to besecured directly to support structure 14 thus eliminating the need forexterior housing or sleeve 40.

Elastomeric isolator 142 is disposed within aperture 52. Elastomericisolator 142 includes internal sleeve 46 and it defines an annular slot160 which mates with the surrounding structure forming aperture 52.Elastomeric isolator 42 can be fit within aperture 52, press fit withinaperture 52, chemically bonded to support structure 14 or secured tosupport structure 14 by any other means known in the art. Elastomericisolator 142 can be formed from silicone (typical for high temperatureapplications), EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer) (typical formoderate temperature applications), natural rubber (typical for lowtemperature applications) or any other elastomer which meets therequirements of the application. Elastomeric isolator 142 defines theplurality of voids 56 which are engineered in size, shape and locationto control the dynamic rate of exhaust isolator assembly 130, theinsertion force for exhaust isolator assembly 130, the system durabilityrequirements for exhaust isolator assembly 130 as well as otherdevelopmental and performance characteristics for exhaust isolatorassembly 130. Elastomeric isolator 142 defines the through bore 58through which exhaust rod 44 is inserted during the installation ofexhaust system 12.

Exhaust isolator assembly 130 can be utilized in place of exhaustisolator assembly 30 at any one or all of the locations which supportexhaust system 12. The performance and advantages described above forexhaust isolator assembly 30 apply also to exhaust isolator assembly130.

1. An isolator in combination with a supporting structure for a vehiclebody, the isolator comprising: an elastomeric isolator disposed withinan aperture defined by said supporting structure; and a rod connected ata first end to said elastomeric isolator, a second end of said rod beingadapted to be attached to a component of a supported element of saidvehicle.
 2. The isolator according to claim 1, wherein said elastomericisolator defines a hole within which said rod is disposed.
 3. Theisolator according to claim 2, wherein said elastomeric isolatorincludes a central portion defining said hole, an outer portion engagingsaid supporting structure and a plurality of ribs extending between saidcentral portion and said outer portion.
 4. The isolator according toclaim 1, further comprising an exterior housing disposed between saidelastomeric isolator and said supporting structure.
 5. The isolatoraccording to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric isolator defines a holewithin which said rod is disposed.
 6. The isolator according to claim 5,wherein said elastomeric isolator includes a central portion definingsaid hole, an outer portion engaging said exterior housing and aplurality of ribs extending between said central portion and said outerportion.
 7. An isolator in combination with a supporting structure for avehicle body of a vehicle and an exhaust system of the vehicle, theisolator comprising: an elastomeric isolator disposed within an aperturedefined by said supporting structure; and an exhaust rod connected at afirst end to said elastomeric isolator, a second end of said exhaust rodbeing attached to a component of said exhaust system.
 8. The isolatoraccording to claim 7, wherein said elastomeric isolator defines a holewithin which said rod is disposed.
 9. The isolator according to claim 8,wherein said elastomeric isolator includes a central portion definingsaid hole, an outer portion engaging said supporting structure and aplurality of ribs extending between said central portion and said outerportion.
 10. The isolator according to claim 7, further comprising anexterior housing disposed between said elastomeric isolator and saidsupporting structure.
 11. The isolator according to claim 10, whereinsaid elastomeric isolator defines a hole within which said rod isdisposed.
 12. The isolator according to claim 11, wherein saidelastomeric isolator includes a central portion defining said hole, andouter portion engaging said exterior housing and a plurality of ribsextending between said central portion and said outer portion.